International Trademark Registration

The Madrid Protocol is an international system designed to facilitate the registration of trademarks in countries around the world. The system is administered by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in Geneva.

Under this system, you can extend a UK or a Community Trade Mark application or registration to many countries around the world, provided that they are members of the Madrid Protocol. The USA, China, Japan, and Australia are members of the Protocol, as well as all member states of the European Union (except Malta). This is likely to be the cheapest way to proceed if you want to protect your trade mark in several non-EU countries. The cost of your international trademark will depend on the specific countries of interest.

How it worksApplicants for an International Registration using the Madrid Protocol must have a “basic” application or registration in their home country. For British citizens or UK companies, either a UK or a CTM trade mark application or registration will suffice.

The international trade mark is filed with WIPO, via the applicant’s local trade mark office, and must specify the country or countries where protection of the trade mark is sought. The trademark applied for must be the same as the mark applied for or registered in the home country. The goods or services covered by the international application cannot be broader than the goods or services covered by the basic application or registration. WIPO will then notify the Trade Mark Office in each designated country. Each country will have 12 or 18 months (depending on the terms on which they joined the Madrid Protocol) in which to notify WIPO of any reason why it will not, or might not, grant protection. If the Trade Mark Office of the designated state does not inform WIPO within the relevant period of any refusal or possible refusal of protection, the trade mark will be granted protection automatically.

The international registration can be extended to other member-countries at any later time should they become of interest.

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Advantages of an International Trademark Registration: -Provides a convenient and cost-effective way of filing and maintaining trade mark rights internationally; -Only the countries of actual interest need be covered by the registration; -If problems arise in one designated country, this can be dropped without affecting the others; -Protection for some countries/regions may be obtained more quickly than by using the national route due to the strict time limits set under the Protocol; -It is poss